squabble

1 of 3

noun (1)

squab·​ble ˈskwä-bəl 

: a noisy altercation or quarrel usually over petty matters

squabble

2 of 3

verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwä-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters

squabbler

ˈskwä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

squabbler

3 of 3

noun (2)

squab·​bler ˈskwä-b(ə-)lər 

plural -s

: one that squabbles

Synonyms of squabble

Noun (1)

• dispute
• quarrel
• altercation
• bicker
• disagreement
• controversy
• fight
• argument
• brawl

Verb

• bicker
• argue
• fight
• quarrel
• spat

Choose the Right Synonym for squabble

quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger.

quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

Examples of squabble in a Sentence

Noun (1)

frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch

Verb

The children were squabbling over the toys.

the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Luke and Kristen squabble for the entirety of the trip, which only adds to its miserableness. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2026

Could the modern classic sitcom about a group of disgruntled office workers' love affairs, friendships, falling outs, and petty squabbles be made today? —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

Verb

The city and a group of taxpayers for years squabbled in court over whether the government had the right to enter into a contract with the Friends, which ultimately disbanded before the zoo opened in Griffith Park in 1966. —Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

The countries have also squabbled over Pretoria’s affirmative action policies and a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. —Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1602, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for squabble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

squabble

1 of 2 noun

squab·​ble ˈskwäb-əl 

: a noisy quarrel usually over unimportant things

squabble

2 of 2 verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwäb-(ə-)liŋ 

: to quarrel noisily for little or no reason : wrangle

squabbler

-(ə-)lər 

noun